Shelter Animals Count (SAC), a source for collecting and sharing credible and accessible data, released its 2025 Mid-Year Analysis. The report compares animal shelter intake and outcome data from January through June to prior years. Shelter Animals Count has introduced an advanced scientific model that elevates their ability to analyze and interpret data from animal shelters across the country. Leveraging cutting-edge machine learning technology, this new model enhances their commitment to providing meaningful insights and fostering data-driven decision-making in animal welfare.

Mid-Year data highlights include:

• Community intakes slightly decreased, but remain high: An estimated 2.8 million dogs and cats entered shelters and rescues during the first half of 2025, marking a 4% decrease compared to the same time period in 2024. Despite this decline, intake levels remain high enough to keep many organizations at or near capacity. Nearly half of all intakes (48%) occurred at government shelters, with the remainder spread across shelters with contracts (23%), rescues (16%) and private shelters (13%).
• Adoptions continue to lead, but show modest decline: In the first six months of 2025, 1.9 million animals were adopted, a 1% decrease from 2024. Adoptions remained the primary community outcome, representing 69% of all outcomes nationwide. Government shelters accounted for the largest share of adoptions, followed by rescues, private shelters and shelters with contracts.
• Non-live outcomes down slightly: A total of 366,000 dogs and cats had a non-live outcome in the first half of 2025, a 2% decline compared to 2024. Most non-live outcomes were due to shelter euthanasia—while the remaining were animals that died or were lost in care. Vulnerable populations such as kittens continue to be overrepresented in these figures, with 65% of cat non-live outcomes being kittens under 5 months of age.
• Transfers hold steady, with slight decreases: In and Out Transfers have remained relatively stable in the first half of 2025. 625,000 animals were transferred into shelters, while 468,000 were transferred out, both down slightly from the previous year. Rescues received the majority of incoming transfers (53%), while government shelters facilitated most transfers out (57%).

Data has enabled our industry to compile a complete picture of the animals entering and leaving shelters. Update your own data and/or register on Shelter Animals Count’s website to get your data counted!

View Shelter Animals Count 2025 Mid-Year Report.